Calendula plant named ‘KERCALSUN’

ABSTRACT

A Calendula plant named ‘KERCALSUN’ is disclosed, characterized by bright yellow fully double flowers composed of only ray florets. Plants have an attractive spreading habit and flower prolifically. The flowering period is exceptionally long, from around early Spring until mid to late Fall. Plants are useful for outdoor ornamental purposes, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Genus and species: Calendula hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KERCALSUN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘KERCALSUN’ is a product of a breeding and selection program forornamental Calendula varieties to be vegetatively propagated. The newplant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofCalendula plant.

‘KERCALSUN’ is a seedling resulting from the crossing of the seedparent, a unpatented proprietary Calendula hybrida referred to as‘10-33-1’ with the pollen parent, an unpatented proprietary Calendulahybrida referred to as ‘08/37/23’ conducted in August 2011. Theselection of the new variety was made in July 2012, by the inventor at aresearch greenhouse located in Cambridge, UK.

‘KERCALSUN’ was first asexually reproduced by softwood stem cuttings ata research greenhouse in Cambridge, UK, August 2012 and has beenasexually reproduced over an approximately two-year period. The newcultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Cambridge, UK:

-   -   1 Continuous flowering from early Spring until late Fall.    -   2. Prolific flowering.    -   3. Spreading plant habit.    -   4. Sterile flowers do not set seed, increasing the        floriferousness of plants.    -   5. Bright yellow fully double flowers composed of only ray        florets.    -   6. Good resistance to powdery mildew.

COMPARISON WITH PARENT VARIETIES

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERCALSUN’ are similar to plants of the seedparent and plants of the pollen parent in most horticulturalcharacteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar differ in thefollowing:

-   -   1. Both parent varieties have single flowers, the new variety        has double flowers.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL CULTIVAR

‘KERCALSUN’ can be compared to the commercial variety ‘Winter CreepersSun and Flurries’, unpatented. However, ‘KERCALSUN’ differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. Flowers of the new variety are smaller    -   2. The new variety flowers more abundantly.    -   3. The new variety produces more branches per plant.    -   4. The new variety has less ray florets per plant.    -   5. The new variety has smaller leaves.    -   6. The new variety rarely produces seed, whereas the comparator        regularly produces seed.

‘KERCALSUN’ can be compared to the commercial variety ‘Cheers Yellow’,unpatented. However, ‘KERCALSUN’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers of the new variety are larger.    -   2. Flowers of the new variety are consistently double, flowers        of this comparator become semi-double.    -   3. The new variety begins flowering later.    -   4. The new variety has larger leaves.    -   5. The new variety rarely produces seed, whereas the comparator        regularly produces seed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of Calendula isshown in the accompanying photographs, the colors being as nearly trueas possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 illustrates a close up of the inflorescence.

FIG. 2 illustrates a mature plant of approximately 2 years, photographedduring September in Cambridge, UK.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plant of approximately 4 months in a 15 cm pot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of Calendula is of the botanical classificationCalendula hybrida. The observations and measurements were gathered fromplants grown outdoors in Cambridge, UK under natural light, natural daylength and temperatures. Plants were planted in week 8 2016,measurements were taken during the Fall. Plants were approximately 9months at the time of measurement.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics thatdistinguish ‘KERCALSUN’ as a new and distinct variety. The colordesignations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, anydiscrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted inthe photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart usedin this description is The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,edition 1995.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Calendula hybrida.        -   Denomination.—‘KERCALSUN’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Softwood stem cuttings.-   Root description: Fine and fibrous brown to tan roots, not    accurately measured with R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Shape: Compact, spreading.-   Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial.-   Growth rate: Moderately vigorous.-   Height: 26 cm.-   Width: 56 cm.-   Branches/stems:    -   -   Color.—Between RHS Yellow-Green 146B and 146C.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Shape.—Hexagonal in cross section.        -   Texture.—Scant pubescence.        -   Length of lateral branch.—Average 25 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branch.—Average 8 mm.        -   Aspect.—Approximately 45 degree angle.        -   Average number of lateral branches.—Prolific with 4 to 5            main stems, each with 3 to 5 lateral branches.        -   Internode length.—Average 3.7 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Average length.—Approximately 8 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Attachment.—Decurrent sessile.        -   Margin.—Sinuate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Moderately smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Moderately smooth.        -   Appearance top surface.—Matte.        -   Appearance bottom surface.—Matte.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147B.            Young foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green 146A. Mature            foliage upper side: Between Yellow-Green 146A and 146B.            Mature foliage under side: Between Yellow-Green 147B and            147C.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near            Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near            Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Leaf division.—Weak.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: March until November in Cambridge, UK.-   Bud:    -   -   Bud shape.—Globular.        -   Bud length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Bud color.—Main color near Green 137A, turning Yellow-Green            153A towards apex.        -   Number of buds per lateral stem.—1.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Terminal capitulum of ray florets only.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 166 per plant, 3 to 10 per lateral            stem.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 4.3 cm.        -   Depth.—Approximately 2.4 cm.        -   Aspect.—Flattened hemispherical.        -   Longevity.—About 10 days.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of ray florets.—Average 105.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate, with an average of 6 whorls.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.3 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Apex shape.—Praemorse.        -   Base.—Narrow cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Slightly reflexed down.        -   Texture.—Smooth upper and lower surfaces.-   Color:    -   -   Ray florets.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Yellow 9A.            Under surface at first opening: Between Yellow 9B and 9C.            Upper surface at maturity: Main color Yellow 9A, darker than            9A at apex and base. Under surface at maturity: Near Yellow            9A, base 9B.-   Fragrance: None.-   Phyllaries/involucral bracts:    -   -   Number.—Average 26, in a single whorl.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces minutely pubescent, hairs            too short to measure.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Upper surface near Green 137A, lower surface near            Green 138B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Straight with occasional undulation.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Peduncle texture.—Minutely pubescent, hairs too short to            measure.        -   Strength.—Moderate.-   Receptacle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 145C.        -   Shape.—Flattened hemispherical.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: 1. Pistil length: Approx. 5 mm.            Style length: Approx. 2 mm. Style color: Near Yellow 5C.            Stigma shape: Linear. Stigma color: Near Yellow-Orange 15A.            Ovary diameter: 1 mm. Ovary color: Near Yellow 4D.        -   Androecium.—Not present.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Disease and pest resistance: Strong resistance to powdery mildew, theexact pathogen is unconfirmed, possibly Golovinomyces cichoracearum.Neither resistance nor susceptibility to additional normal diseases andpests of Calendula has been observed.

Cold tolerance: Short lived hardy perennial, tolerating low temperaturesto approximately −10 degree C.

-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Calendula plantnamed ‘KERCALSUN’ as described and shown herein.